文档介绍：摘要
海事赔偿责任限制是海商法中有别于民法损害赔偿的一项特殊制度。它是指作为责任人的船舶所有人、经营人等,在发生重大海损事故后,可依据法律规定,将自己的赔偿责任限制在一定的限额内。该制度历史悠久,并经不断完善,但客观上却导致债权人不能得到充分赔偿。因此,随着科学技术不断进步,海上风险日趋减少,取消该制度的呼声也日益高涨。然而,该制度的作用并未因此而受到削弱,相反国际公约的不断修更从法律层面上进一步确认和巩固了该制度。究其原因在于航运业对国际贸易具有举足轻重的影响,国际社会不得不正视该行业与生俱来的特殊风险性,并据此接受这种看似“极不公平”的责任限制制度。与此同时,各国出于自身政治、经济、贸易等方面的需要,也相继通过相关领域的国内立法,以确立其各自的海事赔偿责任限制法律制度。
《中华人民共和国海商法》参照《1976年海事赔偿责任限制公约》对海事赔偿责任限制制度进行了实体上的规定。同时,《中华人民共和国海事诉讼特别程序法》颁布实施,也对相关的责任限制基金设立和债权登记与受偿程序进行了规定。由此,我国基本在实体法和程序法两个层面上,建立了较为完整的海事赔偿责任限制的适用模式。但是,由于海事赔偿责任限制制度本身的特殊性,而我国在借鉴国际公约立法时又缺乏经验,使得现行制度在程序上不完整,导致当事人的实体权利可能无法实现。这种实体法与程序法无法衔接的局面,造成了司法实践中海事赔偿责任限制制度适用上的混乱。针对现行模式所存在的问题,本文拟从海事赔偿责任限制制度的起因、变化、发展着手,以分析比较该制度的数次国际立法为研究方法,从海事审判工作实践的角度,对我国海事赔偿责任限制制度从实体层面和程序层面进行剖析,并对我国海事赔偿责任限制制度适用模式的重构提出自己的建议,目的在于进一步完善具有中国特色的海事赔偿责任限制的适用模式。
关键词:海事赔偿责任限制申请责任限制责任限制基金管辖确权诉讼债权人会议适用模式
ABSTRACT
Limitation of liability for maritime claims is a special regime under maritime law which is different from civil damages. After maritime mishaps, ship owners and managers may limit their liability for the payment of damages based on the limitation of liability and in accordance with relevant legal rules. Although the limitation of liability regime has a long history and is improved from time to time, it is destined to prevent creditors from a full recovery for their losses. Therefore, with better science and technology and less marine risks, more and more voices are heard for the abolishment of the limitation of liability. However, the impact of the regime has not been weakened. To the contrary, the regime has been further confirmed and consolidated upon continual amendments of international conventions. The vitality of the regime can be traced to the significant influence of the shipping industry on international trade. Since the munity has to face and recognize the special risks arising out of the shipping business, it must accept the limitation of liability regime which seems “unfair”. At the same time, taking political, economic and trade needs into account